TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Equipment options

There are various equipment options available for crime scene processing, ranging from basic household items to advanced technology and equipment. The following list includes items to consider and suggestions to help stock your kit, along with companies where some of the items can be obtained. Suggestions include personal gear such as hand warmers, neck fans, snacks, and insect repellent, as well as essential PPE, hand tools, or photography equipment such as flashes, lighting, and SD cards. You will find equipment for cameras, fingerprinting, entomology collection, or impression casting.

2. Arrival

While the initial steps taken can be some of the most critical, they are also the steps that need the fewest instructions. The checklists that follow are designed to guide CSIs through initial observations, ensuring nothing crucial is missed. The list will contain items to focus on upon first arrival such as gathering information, setting up the PPE station, preserving tire marks, etc. Second a checklist is provided to cover all things that require initial documentation, such as case information, people present, vehicles present, cameras located, entrance damage, etc. Once that is completed, securing your perimeter is your primary focus and this chapter will provide general guidance for perimeter issues to include hazards and boundaries.

3. Working the camera

While camera equipment may vary widely, certain fundamental functions are critical to achieve high-quality photographs. Some agencies utilize cell phones, whereas others employ the most advanced camera technologies available. The complexity of sophisticated cameras can present challenges, potentially leading to suboptimal documentation of scenes. This chapter aims to refresh knowledge regarding on-scene issues, early morning considerations, or quick reminders. Included within this chapter are an equipment list featuring various options, troubleshooting advice for common issues such as weather problems, light problems or reflection issues, and guidance on camera settings to ensure optimal photographic results.

4. Scene photograph Types

Although scenes may vary in size, scope, lighting or photographic needs, certain essential photographs must be captured for each scene regardless and consistently. This section is designed to help maintain organization and ensure all necessary images are collected before leaving the site. This chapter includes basic photo reminders, such as a checklist of required photographs to capture prior to the search and after the scene search ensuring all items and rooms are accounted for. This includes options for cover page photographs or overhead photographs. It provides advice on mid-range and overall ranges to facilitate accurate and thorough documentation. When that can be accomplished with minimal stress, you are freed up to focus on more challenging tasks.

5. Scene specific photography

This chapter includes a troubleshooting guide for settings that might be needed in less common situations such as extreme closeup photographs, unusual situation with no measuring equipment or tire marks that need to be captured. You will find helpful information for macrophotography including fingerprints and tire marks to include angles and focus. You will find a checklist for application in the field with all needed equipment, settings, and angles so that you will be able to capture your needed photographs without forgetting steps or settings. This information includes troubleshooting pointers for situations with mirrors or curved surfaces, tire marks or footwear prints. You will find steps and tips for photogrammetry, and basic suggestions to get through photographs while using the ALS.

6. Subject photographs

Photographing subjects happens at a variety of scenes, for a variety of reasons, and has specific considerations to be taken into account. There are a few differences from regular scene photographs to be considered and this chapter provides some reminders for subject photographs as well as includes a scene checklist to ensure you don’t miss any photographs needed for live or deceased subjects. You will find tips for subject photography as well as tips for camera settings such as using a 50mm lens for the least distortion, removing your detachable flash or adjusting your flash exposure for skin tone and injury photos.

7. Body trauma and injuries

During the commission of a crime there is often trauma to the body of subjects. This chapter will discuss various types of trauma including bruising, burning, or cutting as well as types of injuries left behind from abuse or sexual abuse. This will provide general information about appearance of injuries and ways to describe them in your notes. Injuries that are commonplace with child abuse, elder abuse or sexual abuse are pointed out to help ensure all injuries are documented. Brief information about alternative medical treatment methods such as cupping or spooning is included to help reduce on-scene confusion when encountered, though rare in occurrence it is helpful to be aware.

8. Decomposition

This chapter will examine the various stages of decomposition, including their timeframe and appearance. Decomposition differs in air, on land, and in water and will be discussed with practical tips such as timeframes or photograph suggestions to capture. Topics covered include rigor mortis, algor mortis, livor mortis, and other changes to the body during decomposition. This chapter will provide possible timelines, appearances, and variables that impact those changes. Variables affecting all stages of decomposition include temperature, humidity, moisture in the air, exposure to sunlight, exposure to the elements such as open air, and accessibility by animals and insects.

9. Cause/manner/mechanism of death

This chapter presents information on various types of cause, manner, or mechanism of death. It includes points to consider, things to look out for and basic facts to consider for scene processing. Topics covered include asphyxia, drowning, drug overdose, falling, fire, poisoning, and suicide, along with common variables and processing suggestions. This chapter does not offer medical advice but provides guidance on documenting and interpreting information at the scene to ensure necessary evidence is not overlooked and offers basic considerations when interpreting observations and evidentiary value.

10. Search Practices

Searching for evidence is something that happens routinely in crime scene processing. As often as the crime scene can change, so can the items you are searching for or searching for their absence. This chapter will provide a refresher of information for search patterns, search accessories or search equipment. This chapter will also provide a checklist of places to look for and things to look under; to help ensure no stone is left unturned and no item of evidence is left overlooked. You will also find a list of possible light wavelengths to refer to when searching with an alternative light source (ALS) on scene to find all needed samples.

11. General scene processing

This chapter offers essential guidelines for scene processing, labeling practices for a common scene to a rarely encountered scene, and general “do’s and don’ts” at the scene. It details various types of death investigations, including those conducted privately or institutionally with basic information to reduce any confusion. This chapter also outlines common roles encountered in forensic science, highlighting the collaborative nature of these roles as well as general duties associated with each role to aid in identifying the appropriate specialist for any needed case referrals or consultations. Such roles include a medical examiner, entomologist, pathologist, animal pathologist and many others.

12. Specific scene processing

This chapter will include various types of scenes to include assault, animal abuse, child abuse, hazardous scenes, officer involved scenes and scenes with religious artifacts. This chapter will provide reminders of things to look for or photographs you need to capture depending upon the crime or situation that you are handling that day. We all know it is easy to forget something when you are handling a type of scene you are not used to. This chapter will begin with a checklist for scene processing that covers photographs needed, temperature collection, sketch and evidence collection.

13. Fire scene processing and evidence collection

This chapter will cover fundamental fire scene information and facts such as temperatures encountered during fires, V-shaped burn pattern markings found at structural fires, and collection procedures for items of evidence from accelerant to wood. It will also provide basic safety guidelines for a fire scene, including appropriate PPE gear, different mask options and the necessity of having a second party present at all times. Additionally, it will offer recommendations for cleaning equipment, evidence packaging, and storage.

14. Autopsy attendance

This chapter highlights the critical role of crime scene investigators (CSIs) at autopsies, emphasizing the importance of thorough, detailed documentation and evidence collection in a sterile environment as well as a contaminated one. It contains a checklist for autopsy attendance and necropsy attendance to include which photographs to capture, practical suggestions for PPE, equipment preparation and documentation. Inked print collection is a big part of an autopsy and identification often relies upon the fingerprints being done well. There are some suggestions for collecting finger and palm prints during the autopsy.

15. Sketch and measure

The value a sketch holds is found after the scene has been processed and released. The sketch will be scrutinized multiple times by investigators, witnesses, district attorneys, and juries while serving its purpose of allowing a clean scene recreation. It is critical to have an unobstructed and unbiased view of the scene, along with all necessary measurements, including height and depth, to ensure precise recreation. This chapter provides fundamental information on various measuring techniques with visual diagrams, required equipment for sketching, and options for selecting a reference point or legend pictures for consistent picture references.

16. Scene video

The completion of a scene video is beneficial for many reasons such as including later review of the scene processing that was completed, conclusions drawn, recreation of the crime, and audio documentation for scenes with live actions or injured animals. While there are not many settings to remember or procedures to get right when completing a scene video, this chapter will provide a guide to help solve minor problems such as reducing bounce, using your camera instead when your equipment fails, or added lighting to help you achieve the best video you can.

17. Vehicle processing 

Vehicles are routinely processed as crime scenes; the same steps but smaller scene. Photographs, DNA, fingerprints hair, fiber, firearms, and projectiles are all items routinely recovered from vehicles that hold great value. This book will help ensure you are able to process your vehicle to the best of your ability. This chapter will address the processing of a vehicle for all common scenarios to include stolen vehicles, vehicles that are the scene of a crime, or a getaway vehicle. This will discuss what photographs to take, where to fingerprint and where to search for DNA samples. You will find suggestions as well as a checklist to ensure basic processing does not overlook any areas.

18. Evidence values

This chapter outlines the benefits that different items of evidence can provide in various environments. Each scene contains evidence in multiple forms, ages, and contexts. This chapter aims to help identify the potential value of each piece of evidence commonly encountered, so that while on a scene, you can consider the significance of each item. For example, a used soda can will provide you with saliva DNA from the mouth, contact DNA from the exterior and pull tab, fingerprints from the exterior sides and probably hairs and fibers stuck to the soda somewhere on it. It is highly recommended you review this chapter in advance so you are familiar with your options.

19. General evidence collection, packaging, transport

Now that you have identified what items hold value to your scene, this chapter will help you with basic packaging and transportation. This will cover everyday items, wet items, large items and firearms evidence. There is no perfect container for all items you collect and sometimes you will need to be creative with your packaging. As long as all items you use are clean and DNA free, you can be creative to ensure your items are fully preserved.

20. Trace evidence types and collection

This chapter will cover trace evidence to include its identification and collection of items that are very small in size such as paint flakes, hair strands, fibers, soil samples and fabric pieces. This chapter will guide you through most scenarios you will encounter on scene to help get your evidence from the scene to the lab for analysis without defect or contamination. There are many options for trace collection so you should be able to find a solution for any situation in this section.

21. DNA Evidence Collection

DNA is encountered in many forms on scenes to include bodily fluids, hair, skin and is often invisible to the naked eye. This chapter will help you collect saliva DNA, contact DNA, and blood DNA. It provides lists to assist you in identifying beneficial areas for DNA collection and offers various techniques suitable for different budgets. There are presumptive tests that can be completed on scene for blood, semen or saliva, and this chapter will discuss their needed controls, processes, and results.

22. Fingerprint evidence collection

Fingerprints are found in various forms such as latent prints, plastic prints, and patent prints. This chapter will discuss not only where to search for prints but how to fingerprint with various techniques as well as materials needed and surfaces that may be encountered. Fingerprints are encountered so frequently it is important that you are comfortable with processing and confident in which method to choose. You have a large number of options for cyanoacrylate fuming on scene to include making your own chambers or using a cup and you will find some of those here. You will find suggestions for various powders and surfaces to help ensure you are the most successful with latent prints you can be.

23. Impression evidence collection

Impression evidence encompasses items such as ear prints, lip and kiss prints, glove marks and stitch marks, tool marks, and footprints left behind. This chapter will address the most encountered types of impression evidence and the methods for collecting them at a scene. Ear prints and lip prints can still be collected, though there is no database for comparison. They can still provide DNA for analysis and can be collected. Footwear prints and footwear standards at a scene can be collected similarly to tire prints, and this chapter will elaborate on various techniques such as 2D lifts, macrophotography, 3D casting, and gel lifts.

24. Bloodstain evidence

This chapter will start with a list of possible locations where blood evidence might be found at a scene, considering it is often encountered, but sometimes difficult to locate. Standard terminology and documentation procedures are provided to assist in completing the basic documentation without difficulty or spending extra time on refreshing your memory. Documenting blood spatter requires organized structure and thorough documentation. Methods for detecting blood that is not visible to the naked eye, such as Luminol or Bluestar, are included along with common recommendations for their use and related photography.

25. Firearms evidence collection

This chapter provides fundamental information on firearms, including definitions, firearm accessories, and ammunition. It covers potential defects or non-lethal firearms and their related injuries. The chapter discusses presumptive tests for substances such as lead or copper. It also addresses the collection of DNA evidence from firearm-related items. Additional types of evidence, such as trajectory or projectile data post-discharge, are included, with guidance on the documentation and collection of firearm evidence typically encountered at crime scenes.

26. Document, printer, ink evidence

Document evidence is often overlooked as it’s value is often unknown upon initial contact and not determined until later when it may be too late to find. This chapter will walk you though possible options for evidence and their value for machines, documents, inks, and accessories. You will find document collection options when the items are charred, torn, or permanently fixed in the scene to enable you to gather all needed information from your scene and get your items back to the lab.

27. Entomology evidence collection 

Often CSIs from differing agencies report feeling uneasy collecting entomology samples simply because they are not collected on a regular basis. This chapter will provide basic information to include life cycles, visual appearance, insect behavior and insect collection for land and aquatic samples. You will find several options for collection that include chemical solutions such as ethyl alcohol or pre-mixed solutions and non-chemical methods. This chapter will help you find your way through the collection of insects you may encounter on a crime scene.

28. Digital Evidence

The volume and variety of digital evidence are increasing annually, significantly affecting case outcomes. Digital evidence includes data from cell phones, such as phone records, text messages, or emails, as well as extensive information found on data servers, transmitted between gaming devices, or stored on vehicle data recorders. Proper collection is crucial to prevent the loss or permanent deletion of this information. This guide aims to assist in identifying valuable items and correctly collecting evidence to ensure optimal retention. This ensures that elements like photographs of the serial number on scene or the device screen are not neglected.

29. Mental health

This text explores the impact of trauma and chronic stress on individuals, particularly in roles that involve exposure to violent crime scenes and the deceased. It explains how long-term exposure to trauma can negatively affect mental health, resulting in conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The concepts of stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety are examined including definitions, contributors, and warning signs. The relationship between burnout and depression is also noted, emphasizing how unresolved stress can reduce the body’s ability to cope and remain resilient.

30. Tips and Resources

This chapter aims to assist the CSI with all other aspects of their job to include various contact agencies you may find helpful, measurements you may encounter and insect prevention to name a few things. You will find a list of on-scene electronic references you can utilize such as fingerprint suggestions from Chesapeake Bay IAI or a guide for headstamp markings. You will also find a list of agencies that you may need to contact but not during scene processing. They have resources, training and supplies that may be needed later. This chapter includes tips that have come from other CSIs that have spent time in the field being very uncomfortable, so you don’t have to be.